KMC 25 - The Party Issue
Welcome to the Party, People
So you’re at a dinner party. The food is good, the music okay, the conversation, um, well, not to be rude, but it’s about as exciting as watching leaves rot. Politics and weather, the news. You thought this was a dinner “party.” As in, let’s dive deep into the wine and dance; let our heads spin into the essence of life, you know, let it all hang out. Perhaps you didn’t know the word “party” is one of many homonyms, that multi-faceted word-rager that makes learning the English language near impossible — unless you’re an infant, of course.
Time to Party! - New KMC Summer Edition Almost Here!
Well folks, that wondrous time of year is almost upon us, the release of the new Kootenay Mountain Culture Summer Issue. This year it's all about good times, libations on the patio, dancing the night away, and a whole bunch of other stuff you'd never expect. Yes, the Party Issue is almost here. Look for it to start arriving at a fine KMC Distributor this Friday, May 16th and through the weekend and into next week as our distribution network spreads the good word near and far!
DeVitos Shoes: A Family Tradition
Any small business knows that with some hard-work and dedication, success is the outcome of what you put into something. Quality footwear and customer service has moved a small shoe repair in downtown Trail BC over 80 years ago, to the largest independent dealer of New Balance Athletic Footwear in the province of British Columbia.
Four generations of DeVito’s Footwear carries on today and is located in Nelson BC. Offering custom orthopedics, full service shoe repair, an extensive line of work boots, casual to running shoes, and shoe accessories.
Check out more from Banditos Media.
Diving Into Fernie
KAVU wanted to celebrate the launch of KAVU apparel, bags and accessories in Canada so they spent a weekend in Fernie packed full of long days, great friends and a mission "to break the fun meter right off the wall."
There is 8,760 hours in a year! Have a KAVU day and make them all count.
Go out there and have a rip..Eh!!! To find more about KAVU Canada check out: elevationindustries.com
From Seattle to Fernie
Seattle outdoor brand KAVU wanted to celebrate the launch of their apparel, bag and accessories line in Canada so they spent a weekend in Fernie packed full of long days, great friends and a mission "to break the fun meter right off the wall."
To find more about KAVU Canada check out: elevationindustries.com
KMC / CMC Video Commercial
Kootenay Mountain Culture just went to the printer! The Party Issue looks amazing, with tons of incredible stories and photographs for your mountain viewing pleasure. Look for the magazines to hit your community in the third week of May. In the meantime, a sweet little edit that espouses the virtues of two wicked mags: Kootenay Mountain Culture, and our sister publication, Coast Mountain Culture. Enjoy!
Mega Magazines from Kootenay Mountain Culture on Vimeo.
Bikes + Beer = Fernie Springtime
Fernie is a mountain town, with four distinct and very different seasons, each offering a mountain of activities and adventures. So once spring officially arrives, the residents of Fernie like nothing more than to dream of the upcoming season and all it has to offer. Cue biking.
Well at least dreaming of biking. At present we are still experiencing top Fernie factor snowfall. But it goes without saying that Fernie residents like to bike. Whether cruising downtown or hitting the 300+kms of single track Fernie has to offer, biking is a big part of Fernie’s spring, summer and fall. Cue Project 9 Pils.
Fernie Brewing Co.’s latest brew is a Pilsner. In the past we have produced a refreshing Lager and more recently an easy-drinking Blonde Ale, but spring of 2014 sees a popular Pilsner hitting shelves, taps, golf courses, and well stocked post-bike beer fridges, of course.
“Brewed right in the Canadian Rockies, Project 9 is a true Bavarian Pilsner with exceptional continental hop flavour that can only be achieved by a selection of fine noble hops including the Saaz variety. The use of Munich, Pilsner and Pale western Canadian malts and time honoured brewing methods produces a clean, crisp Bavarian Pilsner that is truly transcendent,” says Brewmaster Gord Demaniuk.
Coming in at IBU 35 and 5% alc./vol. it promises great hop flavour, with the perfect refreshment of a crisp summer session beer.
Kootenay Filmmakers Take on the Coast by SUP
In the spring of 2013, Canadian adventurer Bruce Kirkby crossed the Georgia Straight from Vancouver to Victoria on a stand up paddleboard. During this journey, he contemplates what is the true meaning of adventure. Accompanying Bruce in a double kayak are Dave Quinn and filmmaker Kalum Ko.
Credits:
Director/Editor: Kalum Ko kalum.ko@gmail.com
SUP/Narrator/Producer: Bruce Kirkby bruce@brucekirkby.com
Producer: Jeff Pew
Based out of Kimberley, BC, Kalum Ko is a young filmmaker, who began six years ago filming friends on the local ski hill. His work has progressed steadily ever since. He was a grand prize winner at the Kootenay’s home grown “Dirtbag Film Festival”, a finalist in the Pinkbike Video of the Year Contenst, and a finalist in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival. Recently, Kalum worked for Sherpas Cinemas on their latest film, “Into the Mind,” and other commercial projects. He has a pretty outstanding resume for an 18 year old.
A leading wilderness writer and adventure photographer, Bruce Kirkby is widely recognized for connecting wild places with contemporary issues. With travel to over 80 countries, and more than 2000 days of expedition travel, Bruce’s journeys include the first modern crossing of Arabia’s Empty Quarter by camel, a descent of Ethiopia’s Blue Nile Gorge by raft, sea kayak traverse of Borneo’s northern coast, and a 37-day trans-Iceland trek.
A correspondent for The Globe and Mail, author of two bestselling books, and a multi-National Magazine Award winner, Bruce’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, EnRoute, Huffington Post, Explore and Canadian Geographic.
His photographic clients — both commercial and editorial – include Patagonia, Lululemon, Time, Outside, NG Adventure and MacLean’s. Winner of a prestigious Western Magazine Award, his photography was selected by National Geographic as among “the most compelling adventure images of the decade.”
An Adventure Envoy for Mountain Equipment Co-op — and the former host of CBC’s prime-time adventure series No Opportunity Wasted – Bruce makes his home in Kimberley, B.C.
The Questions We Ask
In the spring of 2013, Canadian adventurer Bruce Kirkby crossed the Georgia Straight from Vancouver to Victoria on a stand up paddleboard. During this journey, he contemplates what is the true meaning of adventure. Accompanying Bruce in a double kayak are Dave Quinn and filmmaker Kalum Ko.
Credits:
Director/Editor: Kalum Ko kalum.ko@gmail.com
SUP/Narrator/Producer: Bruce Kirkby bruce@brucekirkby.com
Producer: Jeff Pew
Based out of Kimberley, BC, Kalum Ko is a young filmmaker, who began six years ago filming friends on the local ski hill. His work has progressed steadily ever since. He was a grand prize winner at the Kootenay’s home grown “Dirtbag Film Festival”, a finalist in the Pinkbike Video of the Year Contenst, and a finalist in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival. Recently, Kalum worked for Sherpas Cinemas on their latest film, “Into the Mind,” and other commercial projects. He has a pretty outstanding resume for an 18 year old.
A leading wilderness writer and adventure photographer, Bruce Kirkby is widely recognized for connecting wild places with contemporary issues. With travel to over 80 countries, and more than 2000 days of expedition travel, Bruce’s journeys include the first modern crossing of Arabia’s Empty Quarter by camel, a descent of Ethiopia’s Blue Nile Gorge by raft, sea kayak traverse of Borneo’s northern coast, and a 37-day trans-Iceland trek.
A correspondent for The Globe and Mail, author of two bestselling books, and a multi-National Magazine Award winner, Bruce’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, EnRoute, Huffington Post, Explore and Canadian Geographic.
His photographic clients — both commercial and editorial – include Patagonia, Lululemon, Time, Outside, NG Adventure and MacLean’s. Winner of a prestigious Western Magazine Award, his photography was selected by National Geographic as among “the most compelling adventure images of the decade.”
An Adventure Envoy for Mountain Equipment Co-op — and the former host of CBC’s prime-time adventure series No Opportunity Wasted – Bruce makes his home in Kimberley, B.C.
First Descent of the Incomappleux
Kootenay kayaker Carl Jacks and his merry band of uber gnarly whitewater addicts dive deep into one of the last un-run rivers in North America. Look for a follow up feature by Steve Ogle in the Summer 2014 Issue of Kootenay Mountain Culture Magazine, on stands May 18.
Enter The Incomappleux from Carl Jacks on Vimeo.
KMC makes donation to Kootenay Climbing Association from the Backyard Booty event
Who knew that when you bought a ticket to the Backyard Booty, that you'd be supporting your local climbing gym?
One Giant Thank You From the First Annual Mayhem in Kimberley
Thanks to a huge effort by many volunteers, sponsors and supporters, the First Annual Mayhem in the Platzl was an incredible success. Presented by The Choice and Commit, Mayhem in the Platzl packed in a large crowd like never before with an energy unparalleled, setting a great tone for future Mayhem.
The Choice's team snowboarder Anson won the First Annual Mayhem Rail Jam Cup. Stop by the Choice's shop to see the cup, where it will be on display for the next year.
Tons of prizes were handed out thanks to the Choice, Commit, Kootenay Mountain Works, Teck,Chalet GM and My Signs.
Adam Laurin owner of Commit, was on hand for his outstanding announcing, as well as Ciaran Plant arrived for the singing of O'Canada.
King's Cat General Contractor's very skillful Bobcat operator Peter Hill helped move snow in creation and clean up of the rail jam.
Support also came from the Summit Fund, a community program run by Kimberley Alpine Resort, as well as Invest Kootenay, CBT, and Teck. Mayhem was very lucky to have the expertise and hard work of Myc Pakula and Luke Meeds on site to design and build the course, especially during one of the busiest days of the year for the Resort. John Haner, Lisa Smith and Nancy Ricketts on hand with First Aid was a huge contribution, and Cara Wiseman and her team setting up light and sound with Ray's Music.
The City of Kimberley and Rockies Law Corporation's in kind support was above and beyond. From waivers to dump trucks full of snow, this event was made possible with their support.
Tourism Kimberley provided the professional support cinematographer and lighting designer Courtney Forester.
Rail features were made possible by the support of Tyee Log Homes, Fabrite, and Meadowbrook Motors.
Transportation to and from the event was supplied by Simply Kimberley.
Fashion Mayhem was a great success and display of Kimberley's fashion. Thanks to El Chupcabra, Leaf Boutique db Natural Attractions, Hands on evolution, Divine Designs, Root for Me for showing us beautiful outfits this event was a great celebration.
Grubstake provided fuel for volunteers with a delicious pizza lunch during the set up.
Thanks to everyone that came out to enjoy the first annual Mayhem in the Platzl event and Sister Shred Team. Check us out on Facebook and let us know your experience at the event.
If you would like to be part of the Mayhem 2015 please contact Cora Miller @ Cora_M@live.com.
Travis Steeger Memorial Fund and Columbia Basin Trust Make Big Donation to the KCA
Armada Skis and the family of the late Travis Steeger have contributed $35,000 to the project from the Travis Steeger Memorial Fund. Travis Steeger was a young up and coming skier whose life was tragically cut short 5 years ago, when killed by a drunk driver on his 19th birthday. Armada developed the TST ski with input from Travis, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each pair are donated to the Travis Steeger Memorial Fund.
Travis was an extremely active and outgoing young man who just loved “catching air”, whether at the ski hill, on the trampoline, mountain bike, diving, and bouldering. He was very comfortable in the air and would take every opportunity to practice. Both Travis and his brother Dustin benefitted from climbing instruction, as did so many of their peers. The family (Chris, Marlene and Dustin) want to support a local group that will continue to provide these types of opportunities. “Travis would 100% approve of the climbing gym as an initiative worth supporting to help build skills, confidence and camaraderie among local youth,” stated Marlene.
A key focus of the Kootenay Climbing Association will be to provide programming and opportunities for youth. Our vision is to create a social and recreational space that celebrates the mountain lifestyle. “We are honored and extremely grateful to the family and Armada for this very generous contribution” stated KCA president Shawn Tasker.
The Columbia Basin Trust also contributed $20,000 to the project through their Community Development Program. The support from CBT underlines the amount of community support that is behind the project. The climbing gym will be located within the Mary Hall gymnasium, which is owned by the City of Nelson and leased to Selkirk College, and the KCA is fortunate to be able to work with the College to provide this opportunity to the community. The KCA has also confirmed corporate support from Valhalla Pure Outfitters, the Nelson District Credit Union, the Kootenay Co-op, Whitewater Ski Resort, Summit Mountain Guides, NRG and Queen City Charters. Another 67 individuals, families or businesses have signed on as ‘wallbuilders’ with a $500 donation. The Osprey Foundation, the City of Nelson, Regional Districts E, H, & G, have also contributed to the project. To date we have raised over $132,000 for the project, exceeding our initial goal of $120,000.
“We have just completed the engineering design and the next step will be to develop a detailed construction budget and schedule, and start sourcing materials. We are excited about the potential to use local materials for a large portion of the build,” Scott Jeffery, KCA’s design lead said. “Project construction is expected to start this spring”. Conceptual images of the gym will be posted on our website: (www.kootenayclimbing.com) shortly. We will also be presenting the design at our AGM on Thursday February 27th.
The Kootenay Climbing Association is a non-profit society with the mandate of developing and operating an indoor climbing wall in the Kootenays. For more information on the Kootenay Climbing Association visit: kootenayclimbing.com
Tree Skiing, The Sweetgrass Way
So many questions...how did they do it? How long did it take? Where was it filmed? The answers will be available next Wednesday. For now, just sit back and enjoy the sheer brilliance of Mount Baker's wet, wild forest floors. This might be one of the most creative ski segments ever filmed. And, of course, it comes from Sweetgrass Productions. We're a proud sponsor and good friends of these talented ski film auteurs. Look for the new issue of Kootenay Mountain Culture to read a full featured article about the creation of Valhalla.
Mount Carlyle Backcountry Lodge
Our friends at Mount Carlyle Backcountry Lodge have a few spots open. Read about their iconic leader the Bald Bomber in the newest issue of KMC and then book a trip. It's worth it...
January 12th -19th 700/ per person, self catered/ self guided, numerous spots available
January 19th-26th- 1050/ per person , CATERED /self guided, couple spots available
Sherpas Cinema Releases DCP Segment Featuring Epic Kootenay Pow
DCP's Surf/Snowboard Segment (from INTO THE MIND) from Sherpas Cinema on Vimeo.
Check out Sherpas Cinema's DCP's Surf/Snowboard Segment (from Into the Mind), a visual exploration of water's behaviour in various states, and an inquisition to its effect on those who interact with it. Featuring legendary snowboarder DCP (David Carrier Porcheron), as he surfs and snowboards interior British Columbia and Costa Rica, this segment lulls the viewer into that wonderful and content state of hypnosis experienced while riding pow. The segment also features scenes of mountaineering savant Conrad Anker, Kayaking guru Rush Sturges, freestyle wizard Tom Wallisch (stomping his first attempt at a triple), all set in various locations ranging from Tofino, Whistler/Blackcomb, Montana, and beyond.
Fit and Fresh - Patagonia Powslayer Jacket and Pants Review
Last winter, I spent 100+ days in Whistler Blackcomb's notoriously wet and windy weather. I'm not bitching. I dig on that deep-as-balls snowfall and the gusts that blow it into all the nooks and crannies we get to explore. But when you have six months of the Coast Range's worst being thrown at you, there are few jackets that stand up to the task, especially when you fall as much as I do. The Patagonia Powslayer jacket and pants combo was one of the outerwear combos I had the pleasure of trying out this past winter and they held up better than most. In fact, they ended up being my main kit for most of the winter, with the only real contender for the crown being the Arc'teryx kit I used (the Micon jacket and Sabre pants to be specific). Patagonia has a killer package here.
First off, the fit of both the Powslayer jacket and pants is stellar. Throwing away the more traditional cut that caters to the granola crowd, Patagonia has found a great middleground with the fit here. Slightly baggy but articulated enough to move smooth, this is a freeride-inspired cut that balances performance with not looking like a knob from the '90s. All the same technology that Patagonia is famous for is here. 3-layer GORE-TEX + DWR finish keeps you dry (be sure to keep it clean to keep it working), and the hood is generous enough to fit my big dome plus a helmet comfortably. Plentiful but simple pockets provide a ton of storage that doesn't get in the way of mobility too much.
I liked it so much I ordered the kit to wear this winter. And if that's not a recommendation then I don't know what is. - MB, editor
Jacket Details (From the Patagonia site)
-
- Durable and lightweight 3-layer nylon GORE-TEX® Pro fabric for the best in durably waterproof/breathable and windproof protection
- Helmet-compatible, 2-way-adjustable fixed hood with laminated visor for optimal visibility in bad conditions; Touch Point System™ embeds cord locks in hood and hem for quick adjustment (US patent number 5263202)
- Watertight, coated zippers, installed with our Slim Zip technology, reduce weight and bulk; pit zips quickly release heat. New Vislon center-front zip is burly and easy to use
- Pit zips quickly release heat; adjustable, low-profile cuff with pleated gusset secures over or under gloves
- Sleek, low-profile powder skirt stays in place whether secured or not and rotates as rider moves for comfort and protection
- Zippered pockets: two drop-in cargo; two handwarmers; one chest with secure media pocket with cable routing; one arm for pass; two internal drop-in and one internal stash
- RECCO® avalanche rescue reflector embedded in back of neck
- 3-layer, 3.8-oz 70-denier 100% nylon ripstop GORE-TEX® Pro fabric with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Powder skirt: 3.5-oz 91% eco polyester and 9% spandex
- 604 g (21.3 oz)
- Made in Vietnam.
Pant Details (From the Patagonia site)
- New generation GORE-TEX® PRO fabric delivers the same trusted levels of uncompromised, durable waterproofness, but with an even better range of breathability
- Full-coverage bibs with drop-seat configuration and front zipper with single snap closure for venting; belt loops at the waist for convertibility when hiking
- Slim Zip installation with watertight, coated zippers reduce bulk and weight
- Loop on rear yolk attach bibs to powder skirt on any Patagonia® Snow jacket
- Articulated knees for mobility; external thigh vents quickly release heat
- Gaiters seal out snow; tough scuff guards protect inside of leg and bottom hem; zippered pockets: two handwarmers; two thigh drop-in cargo
- RECCO® avalanche rescue reflector embedded at lower right leg
- 3-layer, 3.8-oz 70-denier 100% nylon ripstop GORE-TEX® Pro fabric with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish
- 550 g (19.4 oz)
- Made in Vietnam.
The KMC Editor Amongst Naked Sweetgrass
Last November at Kootenay Mountain Culture's Backyard Booty event, the boys at Sweetgrass released one of the most amazing teasers ever, for their now instant classic film, Valhalla. It involved a lot of nudity and deep powder skiing.
Since we sponsored the film (and because our editors love a good party), editor Mitchell Scott was on hand during the nudey ski scene. See if you can spot him in the segment, released today in honour of Sweetgrass' Nelson premiere tonight.
Turn it on and tune out, friends.
Getting Naked With Sweetgrass Productions
Last November at Coast Mountain Culture's Backyard Booty event, the boys at Sweetgrass releases a teaser for their now instant classic film, Valhalla. It involved a lot of nudity and deep powder skiing. Since our sister title Kootenay Mountain Culture sponsored the film, editor Mitchell Scott was on hand during the nudey ski scene. See if you can spot him in the segment, released today in honour of Sweetgrass' Nelson premiere tonight.
Turn it on and tune out, friends.
